Types of Grants
The Fund prefers to provide seed money for innovative projects and programs or “step up” money to expand programs or to build organizational capacity. The following types of grants may be awarded:
- Capacity Building -- Funding that strengthens an organization so that it may better fulfill its mission.
- Capital -- Funding for endowment purposes, facilities construction, or equipment.
- Challenge -- Funding that is contingent upon the grantee achieving an agreed-on program or operating goal.
- Matching -- Funding that is contingent upon the grantee raising qualified matching funds.
- Operating -- The Fund may invite an operating proposal from a grantee with which we have an established grant history. A mature organization may be eligible for operating support upon establishing a threshold of core competency. A developing organization may be eligible for operating support upon successful completion of a start-up or seed grant, through which it has demonstrated a threshold of competency. Operating grants are unrestricted.
- Project/Program -- Funding for a specific initiative or endeavor, not for general operating purposes.
- Seed Money -- Fund awarded to help launch a new project, program, or initiative.
Scope of Funding
The Fund generally offers grant awards between $10,000 and $50,000; requests for smaller and larger amounts may be considered. Grants review committees are authorized to approve smaller grants up to $20,000. Full board review is required for grants greater than $20,000. The Fund may consider multi-year requests. We encourage previous grantees to seek guidance from Fund staff regarding an appropriate range and type of request. First-time applicants must file Preliminary Proposals.
Read about ineligible requests or download the complete guidelines.
